Myocarditis echocardiography

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Varun Kumar M.B.B.S.; Maliha Shakil, M.D. [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Echocardiography in patients with myocarditis allows for serial assessment of left ventricular dysfunction and can be used to distinguish fulminant (non-dilated hypocontractile left ventricle with thick interventricular septum) from acute myocarditis (dilated hypocontractile left ventricle with normal interventricular septum).

Echocardiography[edit | edit source]

Cardiac function may be monitored via serial echocardiograms. In general, left ventricular function improves in fulminant myocarditis over a course of approximately 6 months. Echocardiographic findings in myocarditis include:^[1][2][3][4]

• Wall motion abnormalities
• Systolic dysfunction
• Diastolic dysfunction
• Changes in image texture on echocardiogram, i.e. increase in brightness, heterogeneity, and contrast
• Pericardial effusion may be noted in few patients
• Functional regurgitation through the AV valves may be noted due to ventricular dilation

Fulminant Versus Acute Myocarditis on Echocardiography[edit | edit source]

Fulminant myocarditis appears as a non-dilated, thickened and hypocontractile left ventricle with increased septal thickness while, acute myocarditis is associated with marked left ventricular dilation, normal septal thickness, and decreased ventricular function.^[1]

References[edit | edit source]

Template:WS Template:WH